A/N: Ok, so these chapters just get harder and harder to write. I want to send out a huge thank you to everyone who is sticking with me througout this story. As I said in the previous chapter's Author Notes, I have been struggling with keeping with my orginal story, but I know that I need to stay true to it. I need to keep going with the story that I have planned, no matter how difficult it may be to write.
I guess the biggest thing I am afraid of is disappointing the people who read this fic. I want to send a huge shout out to those who reviewed the last chapter- your words truly let me know that I am not a huge disappointment. So, thank you, thank you, thank you. You are the reason I am on FanFiction and updating now, when I should be getting sleep for work in the morning :)
I love hearing what readers have to say. Please let me know- I appreciate all responses (especially with the direction the story is moving in at the moment). But, enough from me. Onto the next chapter.
Music: Black Wave/ Bad Vibrations- Arcade Fire, Little Water Song- Kate Miller-Heidke, Ballad for Dead Friends- Dashboard Prophet
Leah breathed deeply as she made her way through the trees. They were close, as the icy, cloying sweet scent assaulted her nostrils. She stopped for a moment, her legs feeling shaky. This was it. This was point where she could continue, or turn around. Taking in a deep breath, she straightened up and took a step forward.
It had scared her, as she contemplated her thoughts in the clearing. She could scarcely believe that she, of all people, had gone to such a place. She would not be sparing Jacob from hurt, she was well aware of that. But she felt a peace at the thought that he would have the knowledge that she loved him. He would never know any different. And that surely had to be better for him in the long run. After all, no matter the ending, she was going to lose him, and he her.
But what kept her walking what that this was her choice. This was her doing. This was her doing. She could not bring herself to think about what this would do to everyone outside of Jacob. She was being selfish, she knew that. But the thought of living when...
Her thought stopped abruptly when three vampires stepped into her view. Keeping her hands at her side, Leah dropped her head and waited...
XXXXX
"Ok!" Alice jumped up from her position on the couch and clapped her hands together. "It's time to go," she announced, her voice much cheerier than it had been when she arrived at Edward and Bella's. "Carlisle, Jasper and the rest are waiting for us."
Bella glanced up from her book. "I see that Little Miss Sunshine is making a sudden return. Can I ask why?"
Alice nodded emphatically. "The coven is almost here, and there is absolutely nothing wrong...yet." She frowned slightly, before vanquishing the expression with a smile. "Keep positive, Alice...Anyway, we need to get home, to the others, so that we can go and meet our guests. There is nothing nicer than a big welcoming party, don't you think?"
"Right," Edward stood with a chuckle. "I'll go grab Nessie," he said, making his way out of the room.
"Good," Alice muttered to herself. "It will all be..." she stopped short, letting out a loud gasp. For a split second Bella was panicking- until Alice picked a vase up from the mantel over the fireplace. "Did you just throw these plants in here? Flower arranging is an art, Bella," she huffed, as she starting to pick and rearrange the stalks.
Bella laughed, throwing her hands up in mock-defence. Alice's concern about the arriving coven seemed to be all but gone. It was nice to see. "Sorry, for my lack—" She cut off as Alice suddenly stiffened. The crystal vase slipped from her grip and shattered on the floor. Bella stared at twinkling pieces, completely stunned. She had never once seen a vampire drop anything- their reflexes were too quick. "Alice, what—"
At that moment, Edward flew into the room, a still sleeping little girl in his arms. "Alice?"
She turned to her brother, her eyes wide and fearful. "Just then. We need to go now."
"What is going on?" Bella demanded, looking between the two of them.
"Alice's vision just disappeared," Edward explained. "She had been watching the approaching coven and it went black."
Bella jumped up. "You mean?"
Alice nodded. "They've run into one of the wolves...maybe more than one. It can't be good. If outsiders discover their existence here, it could lead to an outright war. Or whoever it is may get hurt, and then retribution could be brought upon us for allowing them to visit. Or..."
"But, Sam knew they were coming. They were not going to engage. They were not going to attack. It cannot be one of them, can it? Why would your vision disappear?" Bella asked.
Alice shrugged. "It means that something has gone wrong."
XXXXX
While the rest of the Cullen's had been anticipating their arrival, the speed with which Edward, Bella and Alice entered the house shocked them all. Edward made his way straight to phone and Alice headed to Jasper, knowing that he could calm her, and allow her to focus on regaining her vision. Bella spoke to the rest of family, explaining what had happened. She took comfort in warm weight of her daughter in her arms. Throughout all the drama she had, thankfully, remained asleep.
"Ok," Edward said, placing the phone back in its cradle. "I just spoke with Sam. Emmett, Rosalie, can you head to the reservation? You will coordinate with Sam to ensure that the coven does not cross onto their land. We want to avoid an outright battle, but if you have to, you need to side with the pack. We cannot allow for this to break the treaty, ok?" Emmett nodded, and then grasped Rosalie's hand before the two of them sprinted out the door. Edward paused before continuing. "All but two of the wolves are accounted for." His eyes flickered to Bella's for a moment, and she knew, before he spoke his next words, who they were. "None of them have seen Jacob or Leah at all today."
"But why on Earth would they cross onto our land?" Jasper piped up. "They knew the coven was arriving. What possible reason could there be for them to cross paths?"
Edward and Bella glanced at one another again. He motioned for her to leave the room. As she handed their daughter to Esme and started to walk away, Edward turned to Alice. "Can you try and pinpoint exactly where your vision disappeared? We'll need to get there as soon as possible to stop...help...rescue...whatever will need doing." She gave a nod and with that he went to join Bella.
"Edward!" she sounded wrought. "Could it be them? Do you know which way they were leaving? Surely, they wouldn't have come this way when they knew..."
"If they are together, then they will be fine," Edward said, his voice sounding surer than he felt. "They may not have even left yet. I called Jacob after I spoke with Sam. The phone was engaged. I am sure that he was just speaking with Leah, finalising the details."
Bella gave short nod, chewing on her bottom. "Ok, they're fine...but what if they're not? What if they are out there? Their heads won't be in right frame of mind- they would have been distracted with everything going on! What if—"
"Bella." Edward grasped her shoulders, cutting her off. "Go to Jacob's."
She blinked. "What?"
"The only way we are going to know for sure is if you go and check. Here," he pulled a silver phone from his pocket. "Let me know as soon as you know anything, and I will do the same. Be safe, ok?"
"Ok," she said, taking the phone. Reaching up she pressed her lips into his before turning and sprinting away.
XXXXX
Cold...cold...cold...
She wonders in silence as she looks above her. The sky...she is under it. And underneath feels like...it feels...
Cold.
And tired. She is so tired. She closes her eyes and waits for the sleep to come. Waits for it to cover her, just like the sky. She wonders...
Would sleeping help? Would sleeping make it all better? What it...what it...
What if she was wrong? What if this made everything wrong? She was wrong, both in her structure and actions. Why should this be any different?
So cold...tired...tired...
She wants to open her eyes. She wants to look back up at the sky. The changing sky, moving from day to night. She is moving from one place to another. But she is not sure where she is coming from. She does not know where she will end up.
Does she even want to go.
She tries to open her eyes, but they stay shut. She is covered in black, in darkness. What she feels on the inside is now covering her. Surrounding her...
Cold and tired...
She wonders who will come. Will anyone come? Surely, he will come. He will come and then he will see and then he will break.
But he will repair. He has to repair, or all of this will be for nothing.
She sighs. It sounds weak. It sounds scared. She feels scared. She wonders...
She does not feel so cold anymore. Still tired, but not cold. She wonders what that means. What will this mean for her?
Is she even her anymore?
Who is she?
She is confused...and scared.
They will come...but when? The right time?
She wonders...
And waits...
XXXXX
Bella had only been gone a moment when Edward heard Alice call out. His mind flashed with images of nature- the place where she had last seen the approaching the coven. He examined them over as he made his way towards his sister, trying to see some glimpse of whoever had interrupted their arrival. But he could see nothing to indicate if anyone they knew was in trouble.
"Do you know where that is?" Alice asked when he appeared in the room. Nodding, he turned to Esme who was holding his still sleeping daughter. He could hear Alice explaining to Jasper and Carlisle where they needed to go. "Can you stay here with her?"
"Of course," Esme said. "But please, keep me updated." Edward, Alice, Jasper and Carlisle all nodded, before racing out the back door, in the direction of Alice's vision.
"Where's Bella?" Carlisle queried, as they all instinctively increased their speed, the trees surrounding them now nothing but a blur.
"She went to Jacob's house, hoping that she finds him there," Edward replied. "Actually, on that thought, can you call my phone? Tell her where we are headed? If she finds Jacob, they are going to want to help."
With a nod, and without breaking his stride, Carlisle pulled out his phone and dialled.
XXXXX
Bella burst into Jacob's house without knocking. She could hear Edward's phone ringing in her pocket but ignored it. He could leave a message, but right now she had to find her friend.
"Jacob!" she yelled. "Jacob!"
"What the..." she could hear him muttering before he appeared in front of her. "Bella?"
"Oh thank god," Bella breathed, before throwing her arms around him. "You're ok."
"Oomph!" he gasped. "Bells, you gotta be careful with this new found strength of yours...wait." He grasped her arms and pulled them away from her "What are you doing here? You shouldn't be here- I asked you stay away. Now is not the time for you to start ignoring what I ask..." He trailed off, as he starting piecing together everything she had just said. "Hey, what do you mean I'm ok? Why wouldn't I be? What is going on, Bella?"
"Alice lost her vision of the approaching coven," Bella let out in a rush. "It just disappeared. We can only assume that they have run into a member of the packs. We called Sam- everyone was accounted for, except you and Leah. Edward and I knew that you and Leah were leaving tonight. We were concerned that you could be in trouble. But you're not. You're ok. You're alright."
Jacob heard everything that Bella was saying, but all he could focus on was the possibility of him and Leah in trouble. He could not even get angry at the fact that Edward had spilled their secret to Bella. He was alright. But...
"No, I'm fine. But Leah..." Jacob trailed off, and Bella's eyes widened.
"You don't know where she is?" she asked.
He shook his head. "She left here a little while ago. Said that she needed to go for a walk...fuck, she was completely distracted. That fucking coven would be the last thing on her mind. We have to go. We have to go look for her. If she is out there on her own..."
Bella held up a hand. "Just wait a second," she said, pulling out the phone and raising it to her ear. "We might have a lead."
Jacob's stomach churned as he watched Bella listen to her messages. Leah had to be ok. They were just getting worked up over nothing. The little pixie was not one hundred percent accurate with her special trick. It had to be something wrong with her. She had stuffed up. They were getting worried about nothing. Leah had gone for her walk, and right now she was making her way back home to get her things. Then the two of them would be able to....
"Jacob," Bella's voice broke into his thought. "I know where we can go." She relayed the whereabouts of the location to him. "Unless you want to check Leah's place first?"
He shook his fervently. "No. If she is there, then she is fine and we will just be wasting time. But if she isn't, if she does need help, then I sure as hell want to get there as soon as possible. Now come on. Let's go."
XXXXX
She cannot wait anymore. And she no longer wonders...
But she can hope...
Hope that it is not a mistake...
Hope that...
Hope...
What is hope? She does not know anymore. She knows nothing anymore.
All she knows is the slowly surrounding black.
She is not scared anymore. The black is a comfort, it warms.
It makes her feel safe.
It tells her that it will be ok.
She tries to believe it.
She hopes that it is right.
XXXXX
Jacob stayed in human form as he ran with Bella. He knew that she was slowing herself to stay with him. It was stupid, he could be running so much faster if he just phased. But for reason, he did not want to. He tried to believe that everything was going to be ok. But something was telling him that it wasn't. He could phase if he needed to when he got there...but if the worst case scenario was going to greet him, then he needed his dignity.
'Stop it,' he screamed at himself. Why the fuck was he thinking about the worst case scenario for? It was sick. Why was he willing for something like that to happen? Why could he not just think that everything was hunky dory?
'Because nothing ever is hunky dory,' he told himself viciously. Things turned to shit around him. It was simple. The fact that he and Leah were planning on fleeing that night was proof.
He just hoped with everything he had, that they would still get that chance to run. That nothing would stand in their way.
He heard Bella's sharp intake of breath before he saw anything. He halted to a stop, as she did. She was looking ahead of him, into the trees. He knew that she could see, or hear something, that he was not yet privy to.
"Jacob," she whispered, placing her hand in his upper arm. He shoved it off. He couldn't have her touching him. Her tone of voice was enough. It told him everything that he did not want to hear. He took a slow step forward, a loud rushing noise echoing in his ears.
There was movement ahead, and soon he saw familiar faces stepping out from the trees. Embry and Quinn. They looked at Jacob with expressions that made him want to scream. But he stayed silent. He stayed strong. It would be ok. It had to be ok. Whatever it was could be fixed. Whatever it was could be repaired.
But then, Sam came into view. He was looking ahead, his expression one of stone. An expression that was fighting to become something else all together. His eyes remained focused on a point beyond Jacob. In his arms, covered by a blanket, was a body. A hand had dropped below the blanket. Jacob's eyes fixated on it, on the way that swayed with Sam's movement. On the way that it just...hung...
Lifelessly.
